Atherosclerosis in smokers

Cigarette smoking was found to be associated with an increased extent of raised lesions of the aorta and aortic calcification. The apparent association with aortic calcification was mainly due to co-existing alcohol consumption. The apparent association of smoking with the extent of coronary calcification was also related to co-existing alcohol consumption; smoking alone tended to be negatively associated with this lesion. There was no clear association between smoking and coronary stenosis, myocardial infarction, and heart weight.